Traumatic Primary Eyelid and Facial Laceration Repair

Riva Lee Asbell

Philadelphia, PA
I

INTRODUCTION

I always have to work a little harder when coding for traumatic

eyelid and facial repairs. There is a plethora of rules from CPT
(Current Procedural Terminology) for coding these procedures and
they range from the simple to the very complex.
One of the main problems in attempting to code these
procedures from the operative notes is that physicians rarely dictate a
comprehensive description that includes all the descriptors of the
laceration(s) such as length, location, full thickness or partial
thickness, direction. To complicate things further, sometimes the
appropriate code may be found in the Eye and Ocular Adnexa section
of CPT and sometimes in Integumentary section.
II

EYE SECTION CODES

There have not been any CPT Assistant articles on this to help
us. For eyelid laceration repair there are only two CPT codes in the
Eye and Ocular Adnexa section:
67930
Suture of recent wound, eyelid, involving lid
margin, tarsus, and/or palpebral conjunctiva direct closure; partial
thickness
67935

full thickness

There are occasions when the following codes are also useful:
67961
Excision and repair of eyelids, involving lid margin,
tarsus, conjunctiva, canthus, or full thickness, may include preparation
for skin graft or pedicle flap with adjacent tissue transfer or
rearrangement; up to one-fourth of lid margin
67966

over one-fourth of lid margin

When appropriate these usually are the better choice.

III

INTEGUMENTARY

CPT has written up use of these codes in CPT Assistant and has
defined Simple Repair, Intermediate Repair and Complex Repair. The
list provided here is far from comprehensive and it is recommended
that you read these sections of CPT very carefully.
Simple Repair. A repair is classified as simple when the wound
is superficial, primarily involving epidermis or dermis, or subcutaneous
tissues without significant involvement of deeper structures, and
requires simple one layer closure. This includes local anesthesia and
chemical electrocauterizarion of wounds not closed by suturing.
CPT codes that are applicable for oculoplastics include, but are
not limited to:
12011
Simple repair of superficial wounds of face, ears,
eyelids, nose, lips and/or mucous membranes; 2.5 cm or less
12013
2.6 to 5.0 cm
12014
5.1 to 7.5 cm
12015
7.6 to 12.5 cm
12016
12.6 to 20.0 cm
12017
20.1 to 30.0 cm
12018
over 30.0 cm
Intermediate Repair. Repair that requires layered closure of
one or more of the deeper layers of subcutaneous tissue and
superficial (non-muscle) fascia in addition to the superficial layers is
defined as intermediate. Single-layer closure of heavily contaminated
wounds that have required extensive cleaning or removal of particulate
matter also constitutes imtermediate repair.
CPT codes that are applicable for oculoplastics include, but are
not limited to:
12051
Layer closure of wounds of face, ears, eyelids, nose,
lips and/or mucous membranes; 2.5 cm or less
12052
12053
12054
12055
12056
12057

2.6 to 5.0 cm
5.1 to 7.5 cm
7.6 to 12.5 cm
12.6 to 20.0 cm
20.1 to 30.0 cm
over 30.0 cm

Complex Repair. Repair is defined as complex when it involves

the repair of wounds requiring more than layered closure such as scar
revision, debridement (eg, traumatic lacerations or avulsions),
extensive undermining, stents or retention sutures. Necessary
preparation includes creation of a defect for repairs (eg, excision of a
scar requiring a complex repair) or the debridement of complicated
lacerations or avulsions. Complex repair does not include excision of
benign or malignant lesions.
CPT codes that are applicable for oculoplastics include, but are
not limited to:
13131
Repair, complex forehead, cheeks, chin mouth, neck,
axillae, genitalia, hands and or feet; 1.1 cm to 2.5 cm
(For 1.0 cm or less, see simple or intermediate repair)
13132
2.6 to 7.5 cm
13133
each additional 5 cm or less (List separately in
addition to code for primary procedure)
(Use 13133 in conjunction with 13132)
13150
Repair, complex, eyelids, nose, ears and/or lips;
1.0cm or less
(see also 40650, 69761 67975)
13151
1.1 to 2.5 cm
13152
2.6 to 7.5 cm
13153
each additional 5 cm or less (List separately in
addition to code for primary procedure)
(Use 13153 in conjunction with 13152)
Here are some tips for using these codes:

One adds the lengths of multiple lacerations in order to

select the code. However, do not mix different anatomic
sites or different classifications, such as simple and
intermediate. Code for these separately.
The measurements should be in centimeters.
The laceration should be described as to whether it is
angular, curved, stellate, horizontal or vertical
Debridement may be billed additionally when it involves
removal of appreciable amounts of devitalized or
contaminated tissue or when debridement is performed

IV

separately without immediate primary closure. Reference

CPT codes 11040 11044 for this.
CPT codes 13133 and 13153 are add-on codes as indicated
by the + sign in front of them. Add-on codes are not
billed using modifier -51 and are paid at 100 per cent of
the allowable each time it is used.

CASE STUDY

The case is presented in narrative form and does not provide all
the modifiers etc. The patient sustained a bullet wound the bullet
entered at the left temple area and orbit and exited through the left
medial canthus and the following diagnoses were dictated in the
operative note:
Rupture of the left globe
Full thickness vertical laceration of the left upper eyelid
Full thickness vertical laceration of the left lower eyelid
Possible damage to the nasolacrimal system on the left side
Avulsion of the levator aponeurosis from the left upper eyelid
Multiple conjunctival lacerations, left cul-de-sac
Fracture of the left lateral orbital wall and superior orbital rim
with multiple bone chips and bullet fragments in the bullet
track
Laceration of left nasobuccal fold measuring 1.5 cm in length
The Auditor: Although it was possible to establish diagnosis
codes from the above listing, it would have been more proper
to have lengths on all the laceration diagnoses.
The case, coded as if it were a Medicare patient, follows:

67420 Orbitotomy without bone removal for exploration of

the left canthal and orbital wound track
65105 Enucleation of left eye with muscles attached to
implant
67904 Repair of avulsed levator aponeurosis
67935 Repair of full thickness vertical laceration left upper
eyelid
67935 -59 Repair of full thickness vertical laceration left
lower eyelid
13132 Repair of complex stellate laceration, left temple
11044 -59 Debridement of wound areas with removal of all
bone chips, pieces of bullet, and glass

12032 -59 Repair of 1.5 cm skin laceration left nasobuccal

fold
65270 Repair of extensive conjunctival lacerations
12011 Repair of simple laceration left upper eyelid
68840 Probing of left upper and lower nasolacrimal systems
with irrigation

The Auditor: Modifier 59 was used to indicate separate sites for

codes that ordinarily are bundled under the National Correct
Coding Initiative. Debridement was unbundled due to the
extensive nature of the physician work in this case. CPT code
68840 was used instead of 68811 since the nasolacrimal duct
was not probed the canaliculi were. With a case of such
extreme complexity, this will go to a Medicare medical advisor
and you may need to appeal the payment decision. This is one
of the few times that appending modifier 22 may be helpful in
the appeal process.

CPT codes copyrighted 2006 American Medical Association

Published in Ocular Surgery News, July 15, 2006.